Sen. Harry Reid on Sotomayor

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court:

“As Majority Leader, I will do all I can to ensure Judge Sonia Sotomayor receives a fair and respectful hearing and the Senate’s quick confirmation.

“I commend the President for selecting such an accomplished, qualified and experienced nominee to replace Justice Souter on the Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor has had wide-ranging experience not only in the legal world, but in the real world as well, which has helped to ensure that her understanding of the law is grounded not only in theory, but also in practice.

“Both Democratic and Republican Presidents have nominated Judge Sotomayor to the federal bench, and the Senate has confirmed her with strong bipartisan support in the past. I look forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee to confirm Judge Sotomayor as the first Hispanic and the third woman to sit on the Court.

“Justice Souter has been a friend of mine for a long time and powerful defender of our constitutional rights. Americans everywhere again thank him for his decades of service to the nation.”

As a lifetime member of the Republican party, for over 40 years, I believe that any Judge of the Supreme Court does not make laws but interpreters the laws as found in our Constitution. While I may have disagreements with some of the policies of President Obama's administration, I strongly support his choice of Judge Sotomayor for the present opening on the Supreme Court. I do not do so because of her personal background but because she has a proven record in the federal bench as a fair interpreter of our beloved constitution.

I also believe that the Supreme Court represents all the people of this United States Of American, and it is fitting and proper that the Latino population of our country should be represented on the Supreme Court.

I think it is time, especially in this troubling period of time in our history as a nation, to remember those inspiring words found on our Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door". I believe that it is time to remind the population of our country that our country, except for our inspiring Native Americans, was built on the backs of immigrants. The selection of Judge
Sotomayor reminds us of the promise found on the Statue of Liberty, and I recommend that Judge Sotomayor be swiftly approved by the US Senate.